We went 2-2 in last weeks A-League betting tips to somewhat bounce back from a few ordinary weekends. The season has started to settle into itself after four weeks of play and we’ll look to take advantage of that as we preview the key games in Week 5 of the Hyundai A-League below.
A-League Week 5 Betting Tips
Melbourne City vs Sydney FC (Monday 7.50pm AEDT)
Its 1st vs 2nd in a massive clash to open Week 5 on Friday night as Melbourne City, who currently have a perfect 4-0-0 record face off against Sydney FC. Sydney remain undefeated through four games but have one blemish on their record, a 2-2 draw with Adelaide a few weeks ago. Sydney will be aiming to leapfrog Melbourne to top place on the table with a win at AAMI Park in what will be the first of two away games in a row for the Sky Blues. It will be the first game of a home double header against the Sydney teams for Melbourne City, with Warren Joyce’s men set to play Western Sydney Wanderers at home next weekend.
Melbourne City has only conceded one goal through their four games so far this season and while their attack might not be as prominent without striker Bruno Fornaroli in the lineup, star recruit Ross McCormack has started the season in blistering form as the replacement. McCormack scored both goals in Melbourne’s 2-0 win over Adelaide last weekend and now has three goals on the season.
Really tough match to call here, Sydney have all of the pedigree in the world and deserve to be favourites here given their form over the past year. They have the wood over the Melbourne side as well, winning their last two games against City with a 5-0 aggregate. Melbourne City might be the form side in the comp on paper at the moment but we cant look past Sydney here.
TIP: Sydney FC to win - $2.15 at Ladbrokes
Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix (Saturday 7.50pm AEDT)
Newcastle continued their surprising start to the season last weekend by holding on for a 1-1 draw against the Western Sydney Wanderers. They’ll get what should be a much easier matchup this weekend against the Phoenix, who are yet to register a win in the 2017-18 season and have already allowed eight goals.
Newcaslte have been the highest scoring team in the league so far, plundering 10 goals through their four games much on the back of star striker Roy O’Donovan’s play. The 32-year-old has netted five goals to lead the golden boot race and he should be hard to stop again this weekend in his 50th A-League game, against a porous Wellington defence.
Newcastle start as $2 favourites here and while the Phoenix have been somewhat impressive at home, holding on for two draws against Brisbane and Adelaide, their form away from Wellington has been less than desirable. We like the Jets to hold firm in Newcastle here.
TIP: Newcastle to win - $2 at Sportsbet
Perth Glory vs Adelaide United (Saturday 10pm AEDT)
A mouth-watering battle here between the two Western most rivals in the A-League sees Perth hosting Adelaide United. The two teams sit 5th and 6th on the A-League title, both having won just one game through their opening four matches. Adelaide United sqandered a lead against the Victory a few weeks ago and went down to a tough Melbourne City side at home last weekend while Perth couldn’t overcome the might of Sydney FC last weekend, going down 2-0.
Perth have been great against Adelaide in recent times. They are undefeated against the Reds through their last three matches, two of which have been wins. A recent 5-0 demolition job in Adelaide could still be haunting the Reds and with Adam Taggart and Andy Keogh in great form early in the season for Perth, Adelaide couldn’t be blamed for being intimidated by the prospect of travelling to Perth.
We think both of these teams will be really evenly matched throughout the year and likely hold down the 4th-6th positions on the ladder at the season’s conclusion. In Perth, however, which has proved to be a fortress over the years, we have to give the slight advantage to the Glory.
TIP: Perth to win - $2.10 at CrownBet
Melbourne Victory vs Western Sydney Wanderers (Monday 7.50pm AEDT)
The annual pre Melbourne Cup Monday night game will be played between the Victory and Wanderers this season. A massive crowd is expected at Etihad Stadium the night before a public holiday in what should be a great clash. Western Sydney Wanderers sit fourth on the table with 1 win and 3 draws through their 4 games so far while Melbourne City have struggled early in the season with just 2 points in their opening matches.
Granted, Melbourne Victory played arguably the three best teams in the competition to open their campaign in Sydney, Melbourne City and Adelaide, but their lacklustre 1-1 performance against the Mariners last weekend in which they were outplayed doesn’t inspire much confidence. It could be the end of what has been a dominant era for the Victory, with core players such as Carl Verli, Mark Milligan and Bersat Berisha all on the wrong side of 30.
The Victory have really struggled to find goals so far this season, scoring just four goals while the WSW defence is well known to be one of the best in the league. Should be a pretty defensive affair here so we like the under on total goals.
TIP: Total goals UNDER 2.5 - $2.10 at Ladbrokes
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